Meet Dr. Guerra of Tersa Oral and Facial Surgery
It’s been quite the journey for Dr. Andres Guerra-Andrade, an oral surgeon in Lutz who began his lifetime passion of helping people as a 14-year-boy in his native Venezuela. It was then that he began going on medical mission trips with his Catholic school that provided dental and medical care to people in need. “I did anything the medical and dental staff asked, even assisting ...
FiCare Federal Credit Union, Healthcare’s Financial Partner, Wins Credit Union of the Year
FiCare Federal Credit Union (FCU), the only Florida credit union serving strictly healthcare professionals and their family members, received the Credit Union of the Year award in June from the League of Southeastern Credit Unions (LSCU) & Affiliates for its financial prowess, daily operations, and community outreach. The Tampa-based, member-owned credit union is in the LSCU category of credit unions having up to $100 million ...
Don’t Miss All The 4th of July FUN At Avalon Park Wesley Chapel
One of Wesley Chapel’s biggest events of the year is this Sunday’s 4th of July Celebration at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. The fun begins at 5 p.m., with a bike parade, bake-off, local musical groups, bounce park, exhibitors and vendors, and ends with a bang at 9 p.m., with one of the area’s largest fireworks displays. “If you have not yet visited Avalon Park Wesley ...
Dementia Care Only at Memory Lane Cottage
In the six years since Memory Lane Cottage opened in New Tampa, its exceptional staff has helped individuals and families cope with the challenges that come with dementia-related diseases. Their quality care and compassion are so genuine that several residents have lived at Memory Lane since the facility opened. “The fact that many of our residents have been here for so long says mountains about ...
Avalon Applauds Hope Services
Congratulations to Hope Services, a nonprofit in Wesley Chapel, for being applauded by Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. Hope Services is a vocational service organization that seeks to find jobs for people living with disabilities. The nonprofit got its start in 2003, when executive director Cindy Bray was helping her disabled daughter, Danica, find employment. “I went with Danica to a program helping people with disabilities ...
Demand Rises For Home Health Services
It’s been two years since Gulfside Hospice added home health to its medical services and updated its name to Gulfside Healthcare Services. And what an amazing two years it has been. The need in Pasco and Pinellas counties for home health has been explosive, especially this past year during COVID, when so many people have been restricted to their homes. “Because of COVID, some of ...
Keep Cool This Summer at AdventHealth Center Ice
With the start of summer just days away, AdventHealth Center Ice is the perfect place to escape the Florida heat. Located in Wesley Chapel, AdventHealth Center Ice offers skaters of all skill levels an opportunity to enjoy ice skating at the largest ice sports facility in the Southeast. One of the skating rink’s most popular programs is its “Learn to Skate” series, which offers classes ...
D.R. Horton New Homes Coming Soon in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel
D.R. Horton is now selling homes in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel in its all-new community ‑ Westgate at Avalon Park. “We are kicking off sales in mid-June, but you can join our interest list to be the first to know,” said Courtney Creighton, the builder’s West Florida marketing manager. “We are not limiting the number of homesites we are releasing or can sell, and are ...
Be Ready to Buy in Today’s Competitive Real Estate Market
Anyone thinking about buying a home these days knows it’s a very robust and competitive real estate market. In Tampa Bay, single-family home sales in particular are booming as people from all over the United States move to Pasco County to pursue their dream home in a less-crowded region that boasts great weather and healthier lifestyles. Many new homebuyers are selecting ICI Homes as their ...
Family Fun at Molly’s Hatchet — Axe Throwing, Virtual Reality and Video Games
When the owners of Molly’s Hatchet axe throwing venue in Zephyrhills tell folks they are a family destination, they often get questioning looks. “When people think of axe throwing, they assume our customers are young, athletic adults who also want a bar scene,” explains Shaun Sikat, an owner of Molly’s Hatchet. “But, we’re everything but that. We have created a fun place to go for ...
IERNA’s Happy Employees Create Happy Customers
Since 2003, IERNA’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing has generated hundreds of positive reviews and thousands of satisfied customers. In a highly competitive industry, the Lutz-based company has established itself at the forefront of HVAC and plumbing in the Tampa Bay area. For a company of fewer than 100 employees, what is the secret to IERNA’s success? “Employee engagement,” says Charlene Ierna, owner and president of ...
Avalon Applauds…Nathanael Northey
CONGRATULATIONS to Nathanael Northey, a senior at Cypress Creek High School, for being applauded by Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. Northey has been involved in student government since his freshman year and served as secretary before being elected senior class president, which he describes as an incredible opportunity. “Whether it’s fundraising at a local restaurant, or selling new senior shirts, it’s a great feeling knowing that ...
12-Year-Old Ronnie Ierna Dreams Of The Daytona 500
Ronnie Ierna has been racing go-karts since he was a young boy. After many years of hard work and dedication, today Ronnie is one of the top competitors in Florida and recently was recognized for his outstanding performance at The New Year Shootout Race at the Florida Dirt Motor Speedway on State Road 52. “Ronnie has been focusing on winning this race for quite some ...
Avalon Applauds… Norah Catlin
CONGRATULATIONS to Norah Catlin, for being applauded by Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. Catlin, a senior at Wiregrass Ranch High School, picked up the sport of golf at the young age of 4, and has racked up quite the impressive resume of achievements since then. She has been named the Greater Tampa Junior Golf Association’s player of the year, has won countless junior tournaments, qualified for ...
Is history repeating itself?
I think 2020 will be a game-changer and COVID-19 will be remembered as a turning point that has served as an engine of innovation. Under lockdown, e-commerce as a share of American retail sales increased as much in eight weeks as it had in the previous five years. As people stayed home, almost overnight businesses began to run from spare rooms and kitchen tables, an ...
Art Lovers Invited To Join East Pasco Arts Committee
Do you love art and also love your community? Do you live in Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes, San Antonio, Zephyrhills or Dade City? Then we have an opportunity for you to make a significant contribution to your community, and influence art appreciation and education in east Pasco County. Avalon Park Wesley Chapel is spearheading a new East Pasco Artists Committee to support arts and ...
A New Look For 2021 From Tampa Surgical Arts
Tampa Surgical Arts offers cosmetic treatments that give patients confidence and makes them look years younger. Two of the practice’s most popular procedures are the Brazilian Butt Lift, and facelifts for the lower neck and face. “I love being able to sculpt people’s bodies and help them achieve the curves they always wanted to have, or get rid of stubborn fat,” says medical director Dr ...
Have YOUR Fresh Start in 2021
As we look back at 2020 and prepare for a new year, this is the perfect time to regroup and seize opportunities for a fresh start, and take charge of your health and fitness. As you write your story and start a new chapter in your life, look ahead so you can have a better story in the end. Think about the lessons learned this ...
ICI Homes’ Exclusive Builder In Asturia’s Final Phase
If you dream of building a new home in Pasco County’s in-demand State Road 54 corridor, look no further than the final phase of Asturia in Odessa. ICI Homes — one of Florida’s best-known and prestigious builders — has been chosen as the exclusive builder in Asturia’s final phase, with 23 over-sized homesites in this exclusive community located just minutes from the Suncoast Parkway. "We ...
It’s Time To Get Your Flu Vaccination
Yearly influenza vaccinations are extremely important because it builds the body’s immune system to respond and fight off viral infection. And getting a flu shot this year takes on added importance because flu and new coronavirus symptoms are nearly identical. “I recommend yearly vaccinations, but if a person hasn’t had one in a while, this year is the year to do it,” said Steve Lee, ...
How Kia of Wesley Chapel Is Giving Back This Holiday Season
Collecting Bikes for Kids Kia of Wesley Chapel is teaming up with the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA to collect bikes for students at Sulphur Springs K-8 Community School. “We’re so excited to partner with the YMCA on this because they have a fantastic grasp on what the local community needs,” says Emily Brun, community coordinator at Kia of Wesley Chapel. Sulphur Springs is a Tampa ...
Life after Rehab and Home Health
If you don’t make time for your wellness, you will be forced to make time for your illness. Life was good until you ended up in the hospital from an unexpected illness — perhaps from pneumonia, a urinary tract infection, an unexpected surgery, a scheduled surgery or even COVID-19. After your hospital stay, you thought you would be well enough to manage the rest of ...
Mulligan Financial Helps Businesses Grow By Securing Low Interest Debt
This past spring, Dade City resident Jennifer Mulligan found herself at a crossroads like a lot of people because of the coronavirus pandemic. “As terrible as the virus is, there was also a silver lining, because it allowed me to step back, reflect and set new goals for myself,” said Mulligan. Although not yet 40 years old, Mulligan had a bucket list of things she ...
Our Residents Loving Living At Club Wildwood
Adults age 55-plus are discovering Club Wildwood in Hudson as an ideal community to call home because of its beautiful manufactured homes, first-class amenities (including an 85,000-gallon pool with relaxing waterfall), and an enviable location just minutes from the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. At 478 homes, Club Wildwood is the largest retirement community in north Pasco County. With so many residents, there is ...
You Can Help Stop The Cycle Of Poverty
Wacinque A.K. BeMende has a vision he wants to share with you — that there is an innovative way to stop the cycle of poverty — and he’s asking for your help to spread the word. He is on a mission to help the 40% of Americans who do not have a savings or checking account, people often called the “unbanked,” to open accounts at ...
Announcing our Father’s Day Contest!
“Any man can be a father. It takes someone special to be a dad.” – Proverb With Father’s Day just around the corner, The Laker/Lutz News wants to celebrate all the amazing dads out there by giving THREE dads the ultimate Father’s Day gift! Here’s how to enter: Submit a favorite photo of your dad to , or post your photo to Facebook with the ...
Share your thoughts to help improve The Laker/Lutz News
One of the few positive things about the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) crisis is that most of us have more time on our hands at home and on the job. Having this additional time provides an opportunity to reflect on what is most important to us, and then make changes that will improve our lives personally and professionally. It has allowed me to step back and ...
Three Essential Tips For Caregivers
As a result of the COVID-19 crisis and Stay-At-Home Order, caregivers are feeling more overwhelmed and sequestered than ever. The important thing to know is that you’re not alone, and there are essential resources available to help. The new Caregiver Support Services program at Gulfside Hospice is currently helping those who are caring for their hospice patients, with the goal of empathetically interacting with them ...
A Letter From Your Representative
For the last few weeks, we have had to make major lifestyle changes that were completely unexpected, but we will get through these tough times. Simply taking the proper precautions that have been recommended by the Center for Disease Control can help protect not only you, but also those around you from contracting COVID-19. Social distancing, washing your hands regularly and using hand sanitizer and ...
Pasco County Backs Downtown Avalon Park
The Avalon Park Group has overwhelming support and backing from the Pasco County Commission to create a brand new town center for the Wesley Chapel community. Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel is being planned as a mixed-use development on 215 acres located north of State Road 54, about three miles east of I-75. The plan includes four freestanding office buildings that will have a mix ...
ICI Homes Opens New Wesley Chapel Model in Persimmon Park
ICI Homes, Florida’s premier family owned builder, has been so pleased with its success in Asturia in Odessa, and Bexley in Land O’ Lakes, that it has expanded its Pasco footprint with a new community in Wesley Chapel called Persimmon Park. Located in the area’s most prestigious neighborhood — the master-planned community of Wiregrass Ranch — Persimmon Park is Wesley Chapel’s newest new home community ...
Get The Smile You Deserve in 2020 from Origami Orthodontics
It’s a new year, and the perfect time to set goals that you have wanted to achieve for years! Health goals are always a priority, including orthodontic care, which can straighten your teeth, correct problems with your bite and give you the smile you’ve always wished for. “For many people, the only thing stopping them from scheduling an appointment with an orthodontist is concern about ...
Artists of All Kinds Live In Avalon Park Wesley Chapel
Avalon Park Wesley Chapel is a community of over 1,500 residents that has attracted people from around the world, many with unique artistic gifts who enjoy sharing their talents with their neighbors. Richard Terrill is such a resident. He is an accomplished contemporary painter, whose work was exhibited and sold in the museum shop at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. Terrill’s paintings ...
New Model Homes Open For Tour At Asturia
Unique Floor Plans Offered By Four Premier Builders The holiday season is a wonderful time to dream about your next home, and Asturia invites you to visit its model homes by some of America’s top builders, in Odessa. The community’s beautifully furnished model homes are open for tour daily at this master-planned community, located off of State Road 54, just west of the Suncoast Parkway ...
Gulfside Hospice Helps Over 1,000 Pasco Families Every Year
Hospice is the bridge that helps terminally ill patients and their families navigate the health care system in the final stages of life, while also providing emotional and social services support for the entire family. In Pasco County, Gulfside Healthcare Services has been providing hospice services for more than 30 years, and helps over 1,000 families every year care for their loved ones, and provides ...
Cirque du Soleil Is Back on Ice
Fusing World-Class Ice-Skating with Breathtaking Acrobatics Cirque du Soleil on Ice is returning to Tampa with a new creation that will spin its audience into the vibrant world of Cirque du Soleil AXEL, with seven performances only, at Amalie Arena, opening Oct. 31. This unique show highlights world-class acrobatic skating performances set in fantastical universes, combined with full-spectrum visual effects and awesome live music, seamlessly integrating popular ...
Mattamy Townhomes Feature Island Kitchens and Spacious Lanais
Carmen Livingstone recently moved to her new townhome at Lakeview at Citrus Park and could not be happier with the quality of her new home, and the outstanding service she received from Mattamy’s staff. “Everyone was so helpful, and just wonderful to work with,” said Livingstone, who downsized from a 4,000-square-foot home in a nearby community. “I love that everything is brand new, and that ...
Live In Avalon Park West — Wesley Chapel’s New Downtown
When families are looking for a new place to call home, they have several master-planned communities to choose from in Pasco County. But, there’s none quite like Avalon Park West in Wesley Chapel. “We are not just developers— we are building a brand new town,” said Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of marketing and community relations for the Avalon Park Group. “We’re so much more ...